The launching of Lewiston's Great Falls Balloon Festival is no easy feat.The three-day festival, which draws 100,000 people to the twin cities in August, is an economic boon and generates $2.5 million for the local economy.However, it costs $135,000 to pay for expenses which include, insurance, propane and lodging for hot air balloon pilots.This year, a financial setback came over the winter when festival organizers discovered that $40,000 to $50,000 worth of copper power cables had been stolen from a storage trailer."Oh, it's a struggle, but we're going to get there," said Mell Hamlyn, of the Great Falls Balloon Festival.Related: $40,000 in copper stolen from balloon festivalThe festival committee has launched a GoFundMe page, with a goal of raising $26,000 to replace the cables used to power vendor booths and the stage at Simard-Payne Memorial Park.So far, the fundraising page has generated only $1,135 in donations.Ileshea Stowe, director of operations for Rail's, said there was talk of canceling this year's balloons."We've had that conversation as a board when we first discovered this, but we've had a lot of people reach out. Volunteers and groups that said, 'We'll help however you need.' So that's why we can be so confident now that it will go on," Stowe said.Related: After theft, electrician donates wires to Great Falls Balloon FestivalFundraisers, benefit dinners and breakfasts are planned leading up to the event, scheduled for Aug. 21-23.The local community is also rallying funds.A new restaurant, Rails, located right near the park is donating 5 percent of its sales each Wednesday to make sure the festival survives.

LEWISTON, Maine —

The launching of Lewiston's Great Falls Balloon Festival is no easy feat.

The three-day festival, which draws 100,000 people to the twin cities in August, is an economic boon and generates $2.5 million for the local economy.

The festival committee has launched a GoFundMe page, with a goal of raising $26,000 to replace the cables used to power vendor booths and the stage at Simard-Payne Memorial Park.

So far, the fundraising page has generated only $1,135 in donations.

Ileshea Stowe, director of operations for Rail's, said there was talk of canceling this year's balloons.

"We've had that conversation as a board when we first discovered this, but we've had a lot of people reach out. Volunteers and groups that said, 'We'll help however you need.' So that's why we can be so confident now that it will go on," Stowe said.